Yielding vehicle-tire.



No. 642,8l2. Patented Fab. 6, I900. R. CDWEN.

YIELDING vzmcuz TIRE.

v (Application filed Feb. 4, 1899.) I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

llnumi "i q 4 V L u a E w fi j E 7 I No. 642,8I2.

B. cowen. I YIELDING VEHICLE nmz.-

(Application filed Feb. 4, 1899.)

(No M.)

Patented Fab. 6, I900.

' 2 sheets-sheet 2.

RoZenZ Co' wen. V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT COW 1. ()F CAMBRIDGE. MASSACHUSETTS.

YIELDING VEHICLE-TIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,812, dated February6, 1900. Application filed February 4, 1899. Serial No 704,477. Nomodel.)

To all whom it 17mg concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT COWEN, of Cambridge, county of Middlesex,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin YieldingVehicle-Tires, of which the following description, in connection withthe-accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention is an improved yielding tire, preferably made of rubber,and particularly adapted for carriages. wagons, and similarroad-vehicles, and has for its object the provision of a simple andrelatively-inexpensive tire which may be readily and quickly put inplace and secured properly by an ordinary wheelwright. I-Ieretoforethere have beenvarious devices of this'general nature; but they haveheenanere or less complicated, and the only commercially practical onesthat are on the market, so far as-I am aware, have not been such thatthe ordinary wheelwright could secure them in place withoutspeoialtools, the result being that this kind of tire has not received thegeneral use which its desirability warrants.

My invention has for one of its leading featdres'of novelty theprovisionof aremovable section at the place where the meeting ends of the tireare secured, this removable section affording a sufficient space toenable the ordinary wheelwright to tighten and secure the tire properwith the'usual tools at hand, and a further leading novelty of myinvention resides in providing the yielding tread member of the tirewith a carrier extending throughout its length and provided withretaining portions permanently embedded in the tread member, so that thetire may be placed on a folly and secured thereto simply by fasteningthe carrier.

Other features'of invention and the constructional details of myinvention will be pointed out more fully hereinafter, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, illustrative of preferred embodimentsof my invention, and the latter will be more parti ularly defined in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away,showing my improved tire secured on a usual whe'el. Fig. i is anenlarged vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a top planview thereof,

the yielding or rubber portion of the tire being omitted. Figs; and 5show the movable tively. Fig. (3 is a perspective view of a fragment ofthe carrier or supporting-plate of the tire. Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of the carrier provided for the removable section. Figs. 8 and 9are perspective ,views of securing devices. Fig. 10 is a broken sideelevation of a modified construction. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectionthereof. Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section. Fig.13 is a top plan view of the carrier shown in Figs. 10 to 12. Fig. 14 isan enlarged perspective of the links of the carrier last mentioned.

For clearness of illustration I have shown my improved tire as mountedon an ordinary my tire will be provided as an article ofmanufaeture tobe secured wherever desired.

As is well known, the better road-vehicles are commonly provided withrubber tires, which conduce to the'life of the vehicles and the comfortand convenience of their occupants, and these tires have as a generalrule been secured to the vehicle-wheels by means of wires engaging therubber of the tire in .various ways and drawn tight,with their meetingends electrically welded together, such arrangement, however, not onlyrequiring special skilland experience, but being at best expensive andincapable of being carried out ex- :Vith a view to chapenlng thisdesirable kind of tire and making it feasible for the wheelivrights ofthe country generally to keep such tires in stock for easily placingthem on any vehicle at a moments notice when required I have mounted theyielding portion b, of rubher or any suitable equivalent, on a carrier1), one form of which is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 6. This carrierpreferablyextends of the tire, although I do not limit myself in ,thisrespect when considering my invention broadly, inasmuch as otherformsmaybe used with certain features of my invention. Retaining portions 1)"(herein shown in the form of arches or loops) project into the rubber atintervals throughout the length of the carrier section in side and endelevations, respec- 3 wheel havingafelly or rim aand a usual steel, tirea, although it will be understood that cepting at plants especiallyfitted therefor.

view, parts being broken away, showing one in one piece throughout theperipheral length for the purpose t permanently retaining the rubberimmovably in place, these retaining members 11 interlocking with therubber su tliciently to insure holding the latter solidly and rigidlyinproper position. i As herein shown, the retaining portions extend atregularintervalsin a eontin nous series around the tire between the sidemembers b of the carrier. These side members perform a twofold'0fliee,'projecting inwardly at 19 as is clearly shown in Fig. 5, forthe purpose of embracing the rim of the wheelmore or less, so asto'retain the tire against lateral or shifting movement, and projectingoutwardly at!) for not only inclosing the rubber of the tire, but alsoserving as wearing plates or flanges to receive the more severe blows,such as would be occasioned, for instance, by driving against acurbstone. I

The retainingportions b are properly shaped to receive one or moreholding-wires, one wire being herein shown, (and which, together withthe carrier, constitute the securing device by which I secure the tireon a wheel,) and the retaining portions 1) accordingly have a centraldepression I) extending throughout the length of the carrier, in which aholdingwire w is laid prior to molding the rubberand car-- riertogether, so that the holding-wire is ultimately permanently held withinthe body of the tire.

\Vircs have been heretofore embedded in a solid rubber tire asa meansfor secnringit but, so far as I am aware, these wires have usually beenheld in such a manner that they were liable to cut the tire and had toterminate flush with the ends of the tire in order that said ends mightbe brought snugly together for electrically weldingor other union. I dopart radically, however, from this old construction 'and leave the endsof the wire projecting from the ends of the yielding part b of the tire,sai'd projecting ends being shown at w and 10*, Fig. 2, where I fastenthem together by anysuitahle means. I prefer to 'oin the ends of thetire by means of a turnbuckle, the ends it" urof the wire bcinghereinshown as threaded for that purposeand,,sccnred by means of a turnbucklet. This turnbuckle is centrally slotted at f and preferably cut away at6 as shown best in Fig. 9, to accommodate it to the bolt or fastener cand bridge 0 of the carrier-plateo and embedded within and forming apartof a removable section 0, which constitive in Fig.7and in section inFigs. 1 and 2-.)

The bridge 0' of the small carrierc is centrally perforated at c andflattened at its top in order to properly receive the retaining-' bolt0, as herein shown, although it'will be understood that various othersecuring means may be substituted instead of this particularconstruction, and yet be within my invention. The bolt 0 has a;fiattenednpper. end 0 corresponding in width substantially to the slot15, so that when the removable section is placed over the wire'ends w 10after the latter have been drawn tight by the turnbuckle tthe' bolt cfits down snugly through the turnbuckle and prevents any possibleturning of the latter, while likewise the turnbuckle preventsrotation ofthe bolt. V

Preferably the shoulders or cut-away part t of the turnbuckle is wideror longer than a the Width of the bridge 0, so that in case the ends 10'w of the wire should not project to exactly the same extent theturnbuckle can occupy a position correspondingly nearer tov theturnbuckle t, turning the latter until the holding-wire is entirelytaut. Then simply insert the bolt 0 through the slot t and apply afastening-nut or other securing means at to the bolt until the piece ois drawn in snugly and solidly flush with the rest of the tire. Theresult is that the tire is secured with absolute permanency and rigidityagainst all possible shifting in any direction on the Wheel, theholding-wire w of the securin g device hearing directly on each of theretaining portions and through the latter gripping the body of the tireat every point throughout its length, (although it will be understoodthat, if desired, certain of these portions of the carrier maybeomitted,) and the said members of the carrier gripping both the wheeland the rubber, so as to cause the parts mutually to support each other,while itself acting at the same time as a fender and strengthening-ribfor the yielding part of the tire.

I prefer to make the carrier of rolled metal, although it may beotherwise formed if preferred.

While I have herein shown the best mode in which I have contemplatedapplying my invention, I wish it understood that I am not limitedthereto, inasmuch as there are various other constructions within thespirit and scope of my invention broadly considered,one constructionbeing shown in my Patent No. 611,375 an lanother construction beingshown in my application Serial No. 028,383, and I desire to explain atthis oint that in certain respects, the broad feature of my inventionresiding in providing a yielding tread member witha flexible securingdevice, including a carrier having retaining-arches extending into andpermanently embedded in the tread member, my presentapplication is acontinuation of the application last mentioned above.

'I have used the words retaining portions in this specification, and Iwish it understood that by this term and by the term retainingarches Imean simply any projecting memher which is so shaped and constructedthat it passes into the mass or body of the yielding tread member andbecomes embedded and interlocked permanently in the bod yportion of saidtread member-that is to say, I have,

for example, shown a ribbon-like M-shaped part b? in Fig. 6, whichextends up into the rubber, as shown in Fig; 2, and gets a holding gripdirectly in the rubber, which retains the yielding part of the tiretenaciously in place, and while this particular form of arch orretaining portion is preferable I do not intend to limit myself in thisrespect, but intend to claim all variations thereof which accomplishsubstantially the same general purpose.

In Figs. 10 to 14 I have shown a modified form of my invention, in whichthe carrierinstead of being made in one piece, as in the precedingfigures,is made up of a plurality of links (I, which maybe coupledtogether to any extent by suitable means, projecting tongues (1" beingherein shown as hooked over bars 01 in order to cause the desiredamount-of rigidity to the carrier and yet permit a reasonable amount offiexure therein in order to accom-.

at its center, and adjacent either side of the bridge is aretaining-arch (F, the sides of the link being formed by crimping theplate upwardly at d and inwardly at d to form a sort of dovetail portionfor the upper side of the link, in which the rubber is secured,I*-ig. 2,the link, being bent over to form a loop (1 and downwardly at d for thepurpose of embracing the sides of the wheel-rim, as previously explainedin con nection with the flanges L The carrier having received itsyielding tread member, as already explained, screws (W are then insertedthrough the telly into such of the links as it is found necessary, thesescrews being countersunk, if desired, and the holes filled in with plugs(1 (See Fig. 12.) The rubber is so embedded and interlocked with itscarrier that it is practically as strong as though it were one piece.

Vhile Ihave herein described in detail the various structural featuresof my improved tire, I wish it understood that I am not restrictedthereto, inasmuch as many alterations and substitutions may be resortedto within the spirit and scope of my invention,

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. A tire, consisting of a yielding tread member,-and a flexiblesecuring device including a carrier having retaining-arches, extendinginto and permanently embedded in the tread member, substantially asdescribed.

2. A tire, consisting of a yielding treadmember, and a securingdevice't'herefor, said. securing device comprising a carrier and aretaining portions having'depressions, and a holding-wire extendinglongitudinally of the tire and carried by said depressions,substantially as described. I

4. A tire, consisting ofazyielding tread member, and a carrier therefor,said carrier comprising side members, each having an inwardly-extendingflange .to embrace the rim of the wheel, and an outwardly-extendingflange embracing the tread member, and retaining portions permanentlyembedded in the tread member,substantially as described.

5. A tire, consisting of a yielding tread member, and a carriertherefor, said carrier comprising side members, each having aninwardly-extending flange to embrace the rim of the wheel, and anoutwardly-extending flange embracing the tread member, and retainingportions permanently embedded in the tread member, said carrierextending in one piece throughout the greater portion of the tire,substantially as described.

6. A tire, consisting of a yielding tread member, and a securing devicetherefor, com prising a carrier havinga plurality of retainingportionsembedded in the body of the tread member and having intermediatedepressions, and a holding-wire resting in said depressionslongitudinally of the tire, said holding-wire projecting at its endsbeyond the ends of the tread member, substantially as described.

7. A tire, comprisinga yielding tread memher, a holding-wire forsecuringthe same,

said section com prisinga yielding tread portion, and clamping means forclamping the same in place, substantially as described.

8. In a yielding vehicle-tire, the herein-described means for securingadjacent portions of the tire together, comprising holding devicescarried by and projecting from said adjacent portions of tire andjoining the same together in desired adjustment, and a removable sectionadapted to fit between said adjacent portions of tire and inclosing saidholding devices, said section comprising a yielding tread portion, andmeans for securing it, substantially as described.

9. In a yielding vehicle-tire, the herein-described means for securingadjacent portions of the tire together, comprising holding devicescarried by and projecting fromsaid adjacent portions of tire and joiningthe same together in desired adjustment, and a removable section adaptedto fit between said adjacent portions. of tire and inclosing saidholding devices, said section comprising a yielding tread portion, andhaving its ends liaring divergently downward, and means for securing it,substantially as described.

10. In a yielding vehicle-tire, the herein-described means for securingadjacent portions of the tire together, comprising holding devicescarried by and projecting from said adjacent portions of tire andjoining the same together in desired adjustment, and a removable sectionadapted to fit between said adjacent portions of tire and inclosing saidholding devices, said section comprising a yielding tread portion, acarrier-plate persaid turnbuckle and threaded ends, said sectioncomprising a flexible tread portion, and a carrier-plate embeddedtherein, said turnbuckle having an intermediate slot, and a boltengaging said removable section and passing through said slot forlocking the parts in position, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a tire carrying threaded Wire ends, of aturnbuckle for engaging said threaded ends and tightening the wire, aremovable section for inclosing said turnbuckle and wire ends, acarrier-plate permanently embedded in said removable section, and meansengaging said carrier-plate for securing said section to a wheel-rim,said engaging means interlocking with said turnbuckle to prevent thelatter from turning when said section is in place, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of. two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT COVVEN.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. II. MAXWELL, FREDERICK L. EMERY.

